Moorim Pochang - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 13. Baek Mun-do.

“Some vegetable side dishes too, please.”
“Serve yourself, you fool.”
Hehehehe………..
“Of course, understood.”
Yang Jeong headed into the kitchen and returned with a plate of vegetables, carrying it back out to the common room.
At that very moment, someone was crossing the Stone Bridge.
“We have a guest arriving………”
Before Yang Jeong could finish speaking, Gang Jo hurried outside.
“Welcome, honored guest.”
The late arrival was the same man who had come with the strikingly handsome middle-aged gentleman several days prior.
The middle-aged man let out a hollow cough.
Cough………
“Can you provide a meal?”
“Of course, guest. Please, be seated.”
As Gang Jo gestured toward a seat, Baek Mun-do sat down and covertly studied Yang Jeong’s face.
‘Remarkably handsome, this one. In all my years, I’ve never laid eyes on anyone more striking than my own son—yet here he stands before me.’
While he was inwardly marveling, Gang Jo spoke up.
“What will you have?”
Cough……
The question prompted another hollow cough from him.
His true purpose had been spirits, but something held him back from simply demanding wine without preamble—a hesitation he couldn’t quite name.
“Bring whatever you do best.”
“Very well. One moment, please.”
Gang Jo bowed his head and assessed the middle-aged visitor.
Whatever this man had been doing these past few days, his vital energy was utterly drained—his face spoke of exhaustion.
His purpose in coming was almost certainly not the food, but the medicinal wine they had on hand.
‘He won’t be getting spirits here.’

*

In the kitchen, Gang Jo prepared Dong Po Pork.
Since he’d already been preparing supper, it was a simple matter of portioning rice and the prepared pork onto individual dishes.
“And bring a bottle of spirits.”
“I’ll prepare the spirits myself, brother.”
Yang Jeong took the order from the middle-aged guest.
Baek Mun-do found himself curious about the identity of this strikingly handsome young man.
“Are you the proprietor of this Inn?”
“No, sir. I’m this man’s younger brother.”
At Yang Jeong’s reply, Baek Mun-do nodded approvingly.
It seemed the brothers ran the Inn together.
‘Truly exceptional looks. The older one has a refreshing handsomeness about him, but the younger brother—he’s beyond compare, a standard all his own.’
Neigh………..! Whinny………!
As he was admiring them inwardly, the sound of a horse’s cry echoed from the back courtyard.
The moment Baek Mun-do heard that neigh, his interest was kindled.
In his youth, he had traveled the length and breadth of the Gangho, and he had seen several horses that bore the reputation of Famous Horses.
The Murim Alliance too kept several steeds, among them some that were indeed Famous Horses.
“Would it be permissible to have a look?”
Baek Mun-do rose to his feet before Gang Jo and Yang Jeong could even answer.
“By all means.”
Yang Jeong, who had been bringing the spirits, consented without much thought.
Baek Mun-do rose and walked slowly toward the source of the neighing.
Upon reaching the back courtyard, he found two horses engaged in breeding.
Ho………
What first caught his eye was the coupling of a stallion and a mare.
Yet his gaze drifted to the stallion’s dynamic movements.
‘Lean-framed, but brimming with power. A horse like that won’t tire even after running longer than a bulkier one. Indeed, a famous horse.’
Baek Mun-do coveted the stallion.
Any offspring sired by that horse would be born a famous horse.
After watching the mating for a while, he returned to the Inn and took his seat.
“Would you consider selling me that stallion?”
Gang Jo and Yang Jeong, who were setting food on the table, stared at his face.
“Take him if you wish.”
“I’ve no intention of selling.”
Different answers tumbled from Gang Jo’s and Yang Jeong’s mouths at once.
“Why won’t you sell? You fool.”
“That horse isn’t mine, sir. It belongs to Father.”
Gang Jo would have been happy to sell the horse off on the spot.
All it did was eat and mate endlessly—he was nearly going mad with it.
But since it belonged to their father rather than to San-ryong, he couldn’t force a sale.
Baek Mun-do studied Yang Jeong intently.
It seemed the true owner of that horse was this strikingly handsome fellow.
“I’ll put down one thousand silver taels. What do you say?”
A typical horse went for about fifty silver taels.
But this was not one hundred taels—it was a full thousand.
Yang Jeong felt his resolve waver slightly.
But he quickly shook his head.
What sort of horse was that?
It was one that had devoured a full half-section of thousand-year-old He Shou Wu.
“It’s not mine to sell.”

*

‘More stubborn than he looks,’ Baek Mun-do thought.
He picked up his chopsticks with some reluctance.
Munch, munch…
The moment a piece of Dong Po Pork touched his lips, the regret vanished.
The braised pork noodles he’d had before were delicious, but this Dong Po Pork was transcendent.
Firm and tender, it dissolved on his tongue like snowmelt before slipping smoothly down his throat.
Gulp…
Savoring the taste, he poured wine into his cup and downed it in one go.
Ahhh…
As the fierce, strong liquor burned down his throat, it felt as though flames were shooting up from within.
He quickly thrust a piece of meat into his mouth, savoring it as he glanced at Gang Jo’s face.
“The fiery spirit is pleasant enough, but I wish I could have that Medicinal Wine from before.”
The moment Baek Mun-do made his request, Gang Jo’s face twisted slightly.
“What you drank last time was all we had, sir.”
“Brother, you sold even that precious wine to this guest?”
Before Baek Mun-do could respond, Yang Jeong stepped forward, his face flushed.
“Why are you throwing a fit about this?”
“How could you sell that wine without saying a word to me?”
Yang Jeong made no effort to hide his agitation—quite unlike his usual manner.
And little wonder: that wine was meant for the two of them to share.
“What’s this punk suddenly—”
The moment he caught the coldness in Gang Jo’s eyes, Yang Jeong managed to swallow his outburst.
‘That was close.’
Had he said much more, he would surely have been beaten senseless.
Heh heh…
“My apologies, brother. I don’t know what came over me—foolish words just spilled out.”
Baek Mun-do watched the scene unfold with considerable discomfort.
‘This won’t be easy to broach again.’
One mention and they’d come to blows—ordering Medicinal Wine now would be difficult.
Yet he had no wish to abandon the matter here.
His relationship with the lady he’d yearned for had grown remarkably close in just a few days.
“I’ve dined at countless inns, but I’ve never tasted cooking of this caliber. I’d like to know your name.”
He asked for their names first.
Gang Jo spoke up without hesitation.
“I am Gang Jo.”
“I am Yang Jeong.”
Gang Jo and Yang Jeong introduced themselves in turn.
‘Brothers, yet different surnames?’
“It seems you must be half-brothers—different fathers, by the look of it.”
Baek Mun-do stated his inference as casually as one might comment on the weather.
But the faces of both Gang Jo and Yang Jeong twisted with fury.
“Are you insulting my mother right now?”
“Are you insulting my mother, sir?”
Both demanded answers simultaneously.
Baek Mun-do felt inwardly unsettled, though his expression betrayed nothing.
“Ah… I merely made an assumption when you said you were brothers. I am Baek Mun-do, leader of the Murim Alliance.”
The moment he revealed his identity, the ferocity in Yang Jeong’s eyes softened at once.
“Ah… Yang Jeong greets the Alliance leader.”
He pressed his palms together and bowed deeply.
But Gang Jo was different.
“So what? What does that change?”
Whether the man was the Murim Alliance’s leader or not, insulting one’s mother remained a slight.
Heh heh…
Baek Mun-do let out a hollow chuckle.
What on earth gave the innkeeper such audacity to stand so firm?
He rose to his feet, pressed his palms together, and bowed respectfully.
“I apologize.”
As Baek Mun-do offered his regrets, he felt a peculiar sense of unfamiliarity with himself.
‘The master of all Gangho, bowing his waist.’
Save for his youth, he had never lowered his head to anyone.
He had never wronged another, and all the martial artists of Gangho revered and honored him.
As though nothing had transpired, Gang Jo’s expression grew warm.
“Thank you, Alliance leader. Please enjoy the meal while it is still hot.”
“… Thank you.”
The leader picked up his chopsticks once more and savored the Dong Po Pork slowly.
Gang Jo and Yang Jeong sat at another table and began their own late supper.
“Brother, this Dong Po Pork is truly delicious. I’ve missed it so much that I haven’t eaten properly at home.”
“Please, just be quiet.”
Heh heh…
Baek Mun-do ate quietly, observing the two men.
‘Peculiar fellows indeed.’
Never before had he encountered men so completely at ease in the presence of the Murim’s leader.
Had they been late stage masters of the Murim Alliance, they would have been too nervous to hold their chopsticks steady.
He reached into his robes and withdrew a promissory note from his purse, setting it on the table.
“Here is a thousand silver taels. Just bring me a cup of medicinal wine.”
Gang Jo and Yang Jeong, who had been eating, turned their eyes toward him.
And both answered at the same time.
“We don’t have any.”
“We have none, Alliance leader.”
Their faces made it clear they would not serve alcohol under any circumstances.
But Baek Mun-do was equally unwilling to relent.
“Surely you won’t refuse when the leader of Gangho himself makes such a request?”
Gang Jo responded with a question of his own.
“Would you sell such liquor for a thousand silver taels, if it were you, Alliance leader?”
Baek Mun-do found himself unable to answer immediately.
He was right.
Had he been in their position, he would have drawn his blade and taken the man’s head rather than sell the wine.
That liquor was a martial treasure beyond all measure.
Nay, a treasure to the world itself.
Even the Emperor within the Imperial Palace would offer ten million silver taels if he knew the value of that wine.
“You truly cannot reconsider?”
“It’s not that we won’t, but the wine is simply gone.”
Groan…
A sound of distress escaped Baek Mun-do’s lips as his shoulders sagged.
‘I wanted to show her that volcanic strength of mine just once more.’

*

Baek Mun-do shuffled forward with leaden steps, passing through the gates of the Murim Alliance.
“We bow before the Alliance Lord.”
“We bow before the Alliance Lord.”
The martial artists guarding the main gate bowed in unison, offering their respects.
Yet their voices seemed not to reach him at all.
The Dong Po Pork and rice had been delicious.
So delicious, in fact, that he’d emptied three entire bowls.
Had he paired that exquisite dish with a cup of Medicinal Wine, it would have been the perfect feast.
But regrettably, he hadn’t gotten to drink any wine.
‘Should I bring them some worthwhile martial treasure and demand they serve me wine? Or perhaps teach them a useful technique in exchange for a drink? Better yet—should I take them as disciples? Both of them seem to possess fine physiques. And they’re handsome enough.’
Lost in such musings, he found himself standing at his own residence.
Just as he was about to enter, he paused.
“Where are you returning from, Father?”
At the sound of the voice, he turned to see his eldest son offering a bow.
“Ah… Won-yeong. What brings you out so late?”
Baek Won-yeong, who bowed before him, was his firstborn and his pride.
His martial prowess surpassed even the Late Stage Masters, his character was upright, and his face was comely.
“I was practicing my martial arts and was just heading in.”
Baek Mun-do nodded and turned toward his chamber, then stopped.
“Did you know a new Inn has opened between the Murim Alliance and the village?”
“Yes. I heard Ha Yeong mentioning it. He said the Inn’s proprietor is a swindler and will be driven out within the week.”
Baek Mun-do’s face twisted as he raised his voice sharply.
“What?! That reckless fool still hasn’t learned his lesson! What gives him the right to drive out the Inn’s proprietor?!”
At his outburst, Baek Won-yeong’s head tilted in confusion.
According to his younger brother, the Inn’s proprietor charged a single silver coin for a bowl of noodles.
Even without driving him out, he deserved the reputation of a swindler.
“Is something troubling you, Father?”
“Nothing of the sort. Before you judge hastily, go there yourself and dine at the Inn.”
“Understood, Father.”
Having spoken sternly, Baek Mun-do turned back toward his chamber.
Then, as if struck by another thought, he turned around once more.
“When you go to the Inn, bring a sturdy mare with you.”
“…Pardon? What do you mean, Father?”
Baek Won-yeong couldn’t fathom his father’s meaning.
“There may be reason for it. Do exactly as I say.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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